Texas Rangers 1B Jose Julio Ruiz is working hard to win a roster spot in Spring Training, and could end up playing in the big leagues this season due to the team's lack of depth at first base, according to T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com.

The Texas Rangers signed 1B Jose Julio Ruiz to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training, according to The Sports Network. The Rangers also signed two other players, P Ty Taubenheim and C Robinzon Diaz, to minor league contracts without spring invites. No financial terms were disclosed.

According to The Boston Herald, the Boston Red Sox and Cuban 1B Jose Julio Ruiz, who has defected, have mutual interest in working out a deal, although other teams are in the running to sign the first baseman.

Alden Gonzalez, of MLB.com, reports Cuban 1B prospect Jose Julio Ruiz could also be used as an outfielder in the big leagues, according to talent evaluators. Ruiz is 6-foot-3 and weighs roughly 230 pounds, but stole 32 bases during the 2007-08 season.

MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez reports that Cuban 1B prospect Jose Julio Ruiz has drawn interest from at least seven major league clubs and could sign a contract within the next few days. The Boston Red Sox, Colorado Rockies, New York Yankees, San Francisco Giants, Tampa Bay Rays, Texas Rangers and Toronto Blue Jays are among the teams that have expressed the most interest, according to agent Jorge Luis Toca, who was recently interviewed by the Spanish language newspaper El Nuevo Herald. "The idea is to find a team where he'll have the best opportunity to rise the quickest," he said. Toca added that Ruiz expects to be in major league spring training camp and playing at the big league level at some point this year.